BEIJING, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines from the past week:
1. Asian Para Games officially opens in Hangzhou
China's para swimmer Xu Jialing lights the cauldron during the opening ceremony of the 4th Asian Para Games in Hangzhou of east China's Zhejiang Province, on Oct. 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
The 4th Asian Para Games officially opened on October 22, with 3,100 athletes from 44 countries and regions taking part in 564 events across 22 sports at the Games which runs through October 28.
China's Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang declared the Asian Para Games open, as the event returns to China for the second time following the inaugural edition in Guangzhou in 2010.
Wang Hao, president of the 4th Asian Para Games Hangzhou Organizing Committee (HAPGOC) and governor of Zhejiang Province, extended a welcome to all attendees, adding that the goal has been to hold an Asian Games and an Asian Para Games that are equally spectacular.
2. China secure four golds in badminton's Denmark Open
Weng Hongyang of China in action during his victory. (Photo courtesy of BWF official Weibo account)
Chinese shuttlers claimed golds in four events at the BWF Denmark Open.
Third seed Chen Yufei enjoyed a straight-sets victory over Carolina Marin of Spain 21-14, 21-19 in the women's singles final, taking her second BWF tournament title this season. Chen's unseeded compatriot Weng Hongyang bagged gold in the men's singles.
Chinese pairs Feng Yanzhe/Huang Dongping and Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong staged an all-Chinese final in the mixed doubles, with Feng and Huang Dongping spending 79 minutes to take the gold.
World No. 1 Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan eased past Japan's duo Chiharu Shida and Nami Matsuyama to clinch the women's doubles title.
3. China's Wang Lili named FIBA 3x3 Women's Series MVP
China's Wang Lili was named MVP of the 2023 FIBA 3x3 Women's Series, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) announced on October 25.
This is the first time a Chinese player has been awarded the series MVP. Wang finished first in the fan vote and second in the player vote for the award, while her compatriot Zhang Zhiting finished sixth in the standings. The world No. 3 player also ranked fourth in scoring (217 points) and fourth in Player Value (264.0).
Wang led China to "an incredibly successful regular season" where they finished in third place at the Ulaanbaatar Final on September 16-17, FIBA said.
4. China lose to DPR Korea in women's football Olympic qualifier
Wurigumula (front C) of China breaks through against DPR Korea in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province on Oct. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
China lost 2-1 to DPR Korea in Group B of the 2024 Olympic women's football Asian qualifiers in Xiamen, China on October 26.
DPR Korea stunned the hosts with a quick counter four minutes into the match when captain Sung Hyang Sim sent home a low shot between two Chinese defenders after Kim Kyong Yong had broken through the defense from the right.
In the 51st minute, China's Yan Jinjin leveled the scores from a rebound after a defender blocked Wang Yanwen's attempt, but DPR Korea regained the lead in the 76th minute and seized the win before the final whistle.
5. China win season's first short track gold at ISU World Cup in Montreal
Gong Li, Shaoang Liu, Shaolin Sandor Liu and Yize Zang of China celebrate their mixed relay victory in Montreal, Canada.(Photo by ISU News)
China's short track speed skating team claimed their first gold medal of the new season as they won the mixed 2,000m relay at the first stop of the ISU World Cup in Montreal.
China came from behind to win the mixed 2,000m relay final in two minutes 40.683 seconds, with good races from Gong Li, Zang Yize, Liu Shaolin and Liu Shaoang. Olympic champion Lin Xiaojun had been in the relay squad but was replaced by Liu Shaoang due to injuries at the beginning of the final. Liu Shaoang outpaced South Korea's skaters in the final three laps and secured the gold with a final sprint. ■
